Fire extinguisher apparatus



United States Patent ()flice 3,441,087 Patented Apr. 29, 1969 3,441,087 FIRE EXTINGUISHER APPARATUS Edward J. Poitras, 198 Highland St., Holliston, Mass. 01746 Filed Nov. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 594,452 Int. Cl. A62c 13/38, 13/60, 31/30 US. Cl. 169-31 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A portable fire extinguisher having selectively dischargeable, separate supplies of water and a liquefied gas useable as a fire inhibiting agent or as a pressure source for dis charging water.

This invention relates generically to apparatus for the extinguishment of fires and relates specifically to a portable fire extinguisher which provides a selective discharge of multiple fire extinguishing agents.

Portable fire extinguishers are generally well known and their presence in building structures is desirable but in many instances is actually required by local fire ordinances, regulations, etc. The majority of existing portable fire extinguishers are designed primarily for use against Class A fires and include some mechanism, such as a source of compressed gas or air, which can be activated to produce a pressure discharge of a contained water supply which reduces the temperature of the combustible material below its ignition temperature. Other devices, primarily intended for use against Class B and Class C fires, are adapted to expel suitable chemical extinguishing agents such as.

mechanically generated protein foam, carbon dioxide, halogenated vaporizing liquid agents, etc., which smother the fire to reduce the oxygen or fuel concentration to a level that will not support combustion or produce a fire inhibiting reaction process. Although these known fire extinguishers are effective generally in the particular applications for which they have been designed, a need has existed for a portable fire extinguisher offering a greater flexibility of use.

The object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an improved portable fire extinguisher which is effective against fires of various types and is relatively uncomplicated in its operation.

A primary feature of this invention is the provision of a fire extinguisher having a fire extinguishing liquefied gas filled auxiliary container connected by a pressure reducing valve to a fire extinguishing liquid filled primary container so as to provide above the liquid therein a discharge pressure of the fire extinguishing gas and including a valve apparatus for providing selective discharge from the primary container of either the fire extinguishing gas or the fire extinguishing liquid. This structure furnishes an easily handled, unitary extinguisher having a multi-extinguishing agent discharge capability desirable for fighting fires of various types.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a fire extinguisher of the above featured type wherein the selective valve comprises a multi-position valve having a single outlet and at least two fluid inlet ports located within the primary container and opening into the upper and lower portions thereof. With this arrangement, valve operation connecting the outlet with the upper inlet will eflfect a fire extinguishing gas discharge from the upper portion of the primary container and valve operation connecting the outlet to the lower inlet will produce therefrom a gas pressure induced liquid discharge.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a fire extinguisher of the above featured types having in the extinguisher discharge line an aspirator for combining air with the discharging fire extinguishing fluid and a mechanism for deactivation of the aspirator. The aspirator mechanism permits selective control of the extinguishing agent discharge so as to allow, for example, expulsion of a fog-like water spray.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a fire extinguisher of the above featured types wherein the multi-position valve includes a position for connecting both inlet ports with the outlet opening so as to permit simultaneous discharge of both the fire extinguishing gas and the fire extinguishing liquid.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a fire extinguisher of the above featured types wherein the pressure reducing valve connecting the primary and auxiliary containers includes a regulator for maintaining in the primary container a given pressure of the fire extinguishing gas. This given pressure is selected so as to establish with the proper valve position an optimum discharge rate for the fire extinguishing gas. a

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a fire extinguisher of the above featured type wherein the pressure reducing valve connecting the primary and auxiliary containers includes an auxiliary pressure regulator which maintains within the primary container a reduced pressure of the fire extinguishing gas after all but a certain minimum quantity of the liquified gas in the auxiliary container has been expended. The decreased gas discharge rate established by the reduced pressure furnishes a warning to an operator of the extinguisher while a sufficient quantity of liquified gas remains for expelling all of the extinguishing liquid contained in the primary container.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a fire extinguisher of the above featured types wherein the primary container is positioned within the auxiliary container so as to be substantially surrounded by the contained fire extinguishing liquid. With this arrangement, the fire extinguishing liquid serves as a heat transfer medium for inhibiting freeze-up of the extinguishing gas during its expansion discharge through the pressure reducing valves connecting the primary and auxiliary containers.

These and other features and objects of the present invention will become more apparent upon a perusal of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the multi-position valve shown in FIG. 1 and taken along the lines 2 -2.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown the primary container vessel 11 pressure sealed by the cover plate -12 along the annular flanges 13. Contained within the primary vessel 11 is a liquid fire extinguishing agent 14 which in a preferred embodiment comprises Water. Mounted on the inside surface of the cover plate 12 is the fluid communication valve assembly 15 which in turn supports the auxiliary container vessel 16. Also mounted on the inside surface of the cover plate 12 is the multiposition valve 17 connected to the flexible discharge hose 18 by the discharge aperture 19 which extends through the cover plate 12.

The communication valve assembly 15 includes the primary valve housing 21 divided into the low pressure chamber 22 and the high pressure chamber 23 by the flexible diaphragm 24. The primary regulator valve 25 is adapted to seat over the valve opening 26 in the valve housing 21 and is operatively connected to the flexible diaphragm 24 by the valve stem 27. Biasing the valve 25 toward a closed position is the reference spring 28 positioned in the low pressure chamber 22 which is maintained at atmospheric pressure by the orifice 29 in the cover plate 12.

The communication valve assembly further includes the valve plate 31 which divides the auxiliary container vessel 16 into the upper chamber 34 and the lower chamber 35. Extending through the valve plate 31 is the conically shaped valve opening 32 adapted to receive the auxiliary pressure regulator valve 33. Attached to the auxiliary valve 33 is the valve stem 36 which is horizontally restrained by the spider brackets 37. The reference spring 38 is supported between the lower spider bracket 37 and the auxiliary valve 33 which it urges toward a closed position in the valve opening 32.

The multi-position valve '17 includes the cylindrical valve body 41 mounted for rotary movement within the valve housing 42. Secured to the valve body 41 is the rod 43 extending through an aperture in the cover plate 12 and connected to the operating handle 44 which, as shown in FIG. 2, is adapted for movement into positions A, B, C and D. Located around the periphery of the valve housing 42 are the downwardly facing inlet opening 45, the restricted horizontal inlet opening 46 and the upwardly facing outlet opening 47 which is aligned with the discharge opening 19 in the cover plate 12. The valve body 41 possesses the T-shaped boring 48 having terminal openings adapted for selective alignment with the valve housing openings 45, 46 and 47. Attached to the valve housing for communication with the inlet opening 45 is the elongated pipe 51 terminating in the discharge port 52 located near the bottom of the primary container vessel 11.

Attached to the hose 1-8 is discharge nozzle 62 of the aspirator type having air access holes 63. Slidably mounted on the nozzle 62 is the hollow cylinder 64 adapted for movement into a deactivating position which closes the air holes 63. Thus, by selective operation of the cylinder 64, the operator can either induce or prevent mixing of air with the discharging extinguishing agent.

After transporting the primray vessel 11 to an area of desired use, an operator activates the extinguisher by a downward thrust on the actuating button 55 which is recessed in the cover plate 12 to prevent accidental operation. This action produces downward movement of the actuating pin 56 and fracture of the frangible tube 57 thereby initiating gas communication between the high pressure chamber 23 and the interior of the primary vessel 11. Vapor above the pressurized liquefied fire extinguishing gas '61 will be released through the pressure reducing valve opening 26 and the opened tube 57 into the space in the primary container vessel 11 above the liquid 14. Escape of the vaporized extinguishing agent 61 will continue until the gas pressure in high pressure chamber 23 exerts on the flexible diaphragm 24 a force which overcomes that exerted by the reference spring 28 and causes closing of the valve 25. The primary regulator valve 25 is adapted to maintain in the primary vessel 11 a given pressure selected to establish an optimum extinguishing gas discharge rate through the discharge nozzle 62 after actuation of valve 17 in a manner described below. A determination of this given pressure will, of course, depend upon the design of the nozzle 62, the particular liquefiied gas extinguishing agent utilized, the intended environmental use, etc.

The operator then turns the valve handle 44 from the illustrated off position A to any of positions B, C or D depending upon which type of fire extinguishing agent is desired. With the valve handle 44 in position B the valve openings 45 and 47 will be joined by the valve bore 48 and the gas pressure exerted on the liquid surface 14 will force water up through the pipe '51 for discharge through the nozzle 62. With the valve handle in position D, the restricted discharge port 46 and outlet opening 47 will be connected by the valve bore 48 and the vaporized extinguishing agent 61 existing above the water 14- will be discharged through the nozzle 62. Finally, with the valve handle 44 in position C, both the restricted discharge port 46 and the elongated pipe 51 will be connected to the outlet opening 47 so that both water 14 and vaporized agent 61 will be discharged through the nozzle 62. The combined discharge is possible because the restricted discharge port 46 establishes a lower pressure in the valve bore 48 than exists in the primary vesel 11 above the surface of the water .14. Thus, a differential force is established for lifting the water in the elongated pipe 51.

A determination as to the most suitable valve position will depend, of course, upon such factors as the size of the fire involved, the nature of the burning material, the environmental conditions, etc. For example, position D for discharge of vaporized extinguishing agent 61 only might be selected for combating Class B or C fires or for use where the immediate surroundings are subject to costly water damage. Conversely, valve position B for discharge of water only might be selected for use against Class A fires or for those of limited intensity. In a preferred mode of operation, the operator would first select valve position D to provide discharge of the vaporized extinguishing agent 61 until the fire is extinguished. Subsequently, he would switch to valve position B to provide a discharge of water for cooling the fire residue so as to prevent re-ignition thereof. During the final water discharge step, it can be desirable to activate the aspirator by exposure of the air holes 63 thereby producing a fog-like water discharge which provides distributed cooling without a possibly damaging concentration of water.

It is in connection with this latter mode of operation that the auxiliary regulator valve 32 provides a particularly useful function. With the valve in position D, vaporized extinguishing agent 61 will continue to escape through regulator valve opening 26 for discharge through the nozzle 62 (as described above) until exhaustion of the supply of liquefied agent 61 in the upper chamber 34. Thereafter, any further discharge of extinguishing agent 61 must be supplied through the auxiliary valve 32 which is adapted to open at a substantially lower pressure than that maintained by the primary regulator valve 25. At that reduced pressure the force exerted against the valve 32 by the gas in upper chamber 34 in addition to the force applied by the reference spring 38 are insufiicient to overcome the gas pr ssure in the lower chamber 35 and the valve 32 opens allowing escape of vaporized extinguishing agent 61. The lower chamber 35 is preferably made large enough to hold a supply of liquefied extinguishing agent which will allow expulsion of all the liquid contained in primary vessel 11 with the multi-position valve in position B. Thus, an operator proceeding in accordance with the above operating steps will detect an easily discernible reduction in the discharge rate of the vaporized agent 61 after exhaustion of the supply in upper chamber 34 resulting from the gas pressure reduction introduced by the auxiliary valve 32. In the event the fire has not yet been extinguished, the user can then shift the valve to position B and the quantity of pressurized liquefied agent 61 remaining in the lower chamber 35 will be sufiicient to induce expulsion of the entire supply of water 14.

Additional elements shown in FIG. 1 are the bosses 65 which inhibit within the valve openings 21 and 32 possible freezing of the fire inhibiting agent 61. With relatively high discharge rates through the regulator valves 25 or 33, the substantial heat energy required for vaporizing and for reducing the pressure of the liquid agent can cause freezing thereof. Since uninterrupted flow of the fire inhibiting agent is critical in fire fighting applications, protection against freeze-up is an important feature of the invention.

The cylindrical bosses 65 enlarge the surface upon which condensation of the surrounding saturated extinguishing agent 61 can occur and latent heat provided by condensation helps prevent freezing of the escaping vapor. The cold condensed liquid then flows down the surfaces of the cylindrical bosses 65 and drops into the liquefied agent 61. Simultaneously however, heat is transferred to the liquefied agent 61 through the walls of the auxiliary vessel 16 from the liquid agent 14. Thus, an overall heat transfer mechanism is provided which furnishes the heat required for vaporization and expansion of the escaping vaporous agent 61 thereby preventing freezing thereof. An additional advantage gained by this feature is that the described heat transfer cools the liquid agent 14 rendering it more effective for subsequent use against the fire.

Although other liquefied fire extinguishing agents can be used in the auxiliary vessel 16, Freon PE 1301 marketed by the Du Pont Co. is a particularly desirable agent for this application because of several inherent characteristics. PE 1301 reacts with transient combustion products to terminate the chain reaction involved in combustion to thereby stop flame propagation. Also, in addition to being extremely eifective against Class B and C fires, PE 1301 exhibits a negligible toxicity and an excellent chemical stability rendering it satisfactory for use in practically all fire protection applications and with practically all types of materials employed in fire extinguishing equipment.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A fire extinguisher apparatus comprising an auxiliary container adapted to contain a fire extinguishing liquified gas under pressure, a pressure sealed primary container adapted to contain a fire extinguishing liquid, pressure reducing gas communication means adapted to permit passage of said fire extinguishing gas from said auxiliary to said primary container, discharge means adapted to permit fluid discharge from said primary container, said discharge means comprising fluid discharge ports located inside said primary container and at substantially opposite ends thereof, said discharge means further comprising a multi-position valve having an outlet tube and inlet tubes defining said fluid discharge ports, said multi-position valve adapted in one position to produce discharge of said fire extinguishing liquid through said outlet tube and in a second position to produce discharge of said fire extinguishing gas through said outlet tube and in a combination position to connect both said liquid discharge ports with said outlet tube, and a restrictor means adapted in said combination position to pro duce within said multi-position valve a liquified gas pressure less than that existing in said primary container so as to permit discharge of both said fire extinguishing liquid and said fire extinguishing gas through said outlet tube with said multi-position valve in said combination position.

2. A fire extinguisher apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said discharge means comprises a discharge hose connected to said outlet tube.

3. A fire extinguisher apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said discharge hose includes an aspirator means adapted to combine air with a discharging fire extinguishing agent.

4. A fire extinguisher apparatus according to claim 3 including aspirator control means adapted to permit deactivation of said aspirator means.

5. A fire extinguisher apparatus comprising an auxiliary container adapted to contain a fire extinguishing liquified gas under pressure, a pressure sealed primary container adapted to contain a fire extinguishing liquid, pressure reducing gas communication means adapted to permit passage of said fire extinguishing gas from said auxiliary to said primary container, discharge means adapted to permit fluid discharge from said primary container, said discharge means comprising selective valve means adapted in one position to produce discharge of said fire extinguishing liquid through said discharge means and in a second position to produce discharge of said fire extinguishing gas through said discharge means, said communication means comprising a primary pres sure regulator means adapted to maintain a given pressure of said fire extinguishing gas in said primary container and an auxaliary pressure regulator means adapted to maintain a reduced pressure of said fire extinguishing gas in said primary container after all but a certain minimum quantity of said liquified gas has been expended from said auxiliary container.

6. A fire extinguisher apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said auxiliary container is positioned within said primary container so as to be substantially surrounded by said fire extinguishing liquid.

7. A fire extinguisher apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said auxiliary container is divided into upper and lower chambers and said primary pressure regulator provides fluid communication between said upper chamber and said primary container and said auxiliary pressure regulator provides fluid communication between said upper and lower chambers.

8. A fire extinguisher apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said communication means further comprises frangible seal means connecting said primary and auxilliary containers and including a manual actuator for opening said frangible seal.

9. A fire extinguisher apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said discharge means defines fluid discharge ports located inside said auxiliary container and at substantially opposite ends thereof.

10. A fire extinguisher apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said discharge means comprises a discharge hose and said selective valve means comprises a multiposition valve having an outlet tube connected to said discharge hose and inlet tubes defining said fluid discharge ports.

11. A fire extinguisher apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said multi-position valve is adapted in a combination position to connect both of said fluid discharge ports with said outlet tube so as to produce discharge of both said fire extinguishing liquid and said fire extinguishing gas through said discharge hose.

12. A fire extinguisher apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said discharge hose includes an aspirator means adapted to combine air with a discharging fire extinguishing agent.

13. A fire extinguisher apparatus according to claim 12 including aspirator control means adapted to permit deactivation of said aspirator means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,149,929 3/1939 Plastaras 169-3l 2,832,425 4/1958 Jacobs 169-31 2,967,570 1/1961 Nurkiewicz 1699 XR 3,021,870 2/1962 Allen 137210 XR 3,251,419 5/1966 Howard 169-31 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 12,412 7/1906 Great Britain.

EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

